Scottish Parliament

Written Answers

Tuesday 24 August 1999

Scottish Executive

Administration

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets its departments have been set regarding replies to correspondence received from MSPs.

Donald Dewar: The targets are for an acknowledgement to be issued within 2 working days of receipt of an MSP’s letter; for a substantive reply to be issued within 17 working days of receipt; and for an interim reply to be issued where it is evident that a final reply cannot be issued within the 17 working day target.

Beef

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government over the exclusion of Scottish beef from German markets and specifically whether it will request Her Majesty’s Government to take action against the German government in the European Courts and to seek financial compensation for Scotland’s beef industry for any loss sustained.

Ross Finnie: It is for the EC Commission to monitor the position and take action as it judges necessary. The UK Permanent Representative to the European Union has already raised the German position with the Commission. All Member States have to comply with the Commission Decision setting 1 August as the date when beef may be exported under the Date Based Export Scheme. The majority of Member States have indicated that they will accept beef produced in accordance with DBES conditions. It would be for individual companies, rather than the government or the Executive, to seek redress in the Courts for losses incurred due to a Member State failing to implement its Community obligations.

Birds

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the average estimated population of peregrines and sparrowhawks in Scotland for each of the past five decades.

Sarah Boyack: Not all the information requested is available. The most recent reliable population estimate available for the sparrowhawk is the 1988-91 Breeding Bird Atlas Survey. This gives an estimated figure of 7,000 breeding pairs.

  The most recent full survey of the peregrine was in 1991. This showed a population of 634 occupied territories (occupied territories will generally be occupied by a breeding pair of birds, but not in every case, and single occupancy does occur). The previous figures were: 1961 – 446 occupied territories; 1971 – 365 occupied territories; and 1981 – 489 occupied territories.

Birds

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has a target for the total raptor population in Scotland and, if so, what it is.

Sarah Boyack: There is no target for the total raptor population in Scotland.

Birds

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the arrangements are for counting the raptor population in Scotland, including the relevant qualifications of the personnel involved.

Sarah Boyack: Arrangements vary for different species. Common species such as the kestrel sparrowhawk and buzzard are monitored by the Breeding Bird Survey organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). In Scotland much work is undertaken by Raptor Study Group members, all of whom are volunteers and undertake the work in their spare time.

  Some scarce species (e.g. peregrine, merlin, hen harrier and golden eagle) are surveyed by dedicated professional surveyors who are employed by one of the main bird conservation groups such as RSPB.

  All surveyors are familiar with the species concerned and possess good field ornithological skills. Where appropriate, they are licensed by Scottish Natural Heritage, and in this event SNH undertakes checks on all applicants to establish that they are fit and proper persons to undertake such work.

Birds

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the estimated population of raptors in Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: The latest available estimate of the raptor population in Scotland, excluding juvenile and non-breeding birds, is approximately 27,000 breeding pairs.

Birds

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to specify funding provided by Scottish Natural Heritage to the Scottish Raptors Group in the form of grants, loans and contracts, for each of the last three years.

Sarah Boyack: There were no contracts or loans from SNH to Scottish Raptor Study Groups in the period 1996-1999. Grants paid during this period were:

  

Year
No of grants 

Amount 



1996-97
2 

£5,358.00 



1997-98
4 

£12,363.50 



1998-99
10 

£25,026.00 



1999-2000
4 

£12,597.00 (provisional
figure)

Devolution

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a detailed account of the process being employed to prepare the draft concordats between the Her Majesty’s Government and itself, in particular which of these two bodies is preparing or has prepared the initial drafts for consideration.

Donald Dewar: The UK Government has prepared drafts, which have now been received by the Scottish Executive. Once they have been agreed between the UK Government and the devolved administrations, they will be presented to the Parliament for their endorsement.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to record sales of fisheries quota, fishing licences, vessels and entitlement to fishing interests outwith Scotland.

Mr John Home Robertson: The Scottish Executive holds records of all licensed fishing vessels administered by Scottish ports. These records include any associated Fixed Quota Allocation units, details of catches of quota species and the names and addresses of licence holders, whether resident in Scotland or not. Information on fishing vessels, licences and quotas elsewhere in the UK is obtained where necessary from other UK Fisheries Departments.

  There are no territorial restrictions on the transfer of fishing vessels, licences or quota within the UK. This reflects the highly mobile nature of the industry and the stocks they prosecute. The Scottish Executive does not collect data on any financial transactions which may be associated with such transfers.

  The Scottish Executive has no plans to record additional details.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who represented the Scottish Executive during any discussions relating to the memorandum of understanding and any supporting concordat relating to fisheries drawn by Her Majesty’s Government; when these discussions took place; what the venue was for these discussions; whether any minutes were taken, and, if so, whether these minutes will be published.

Mr John Home Robertson: Fisheries issues will be covered in a bilateral concordat between the Scottish Executive and the Ministry for Agriculture Fisheries and Food. This concordat will be discussed and agreed after the Memorandum of Understanding and other multilateral concordats have been agreed between the UK Government and the devolved administrations.

Fisheries

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-367 by Donald Dewar on 2 July, whether it has now received the draft memorandum of understanding and supporting concordats from Her Majesty’s Government, whether fisheries will be the subject of a separate concordat, and when the draft memorandum and concordats will be published and presented to the Parliament for endorsement.

Mr John Home Robertson: I refer to the answer given by Donald Dewar to Alex Neil (S1W-886) and my answer to question S1W-867.

Health

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria exist for the prescription of beta interferon in Scotland, whether these criteria are the same throughout Scotland, and, if they are not, what action it will take to ensure that beta interferon is prescribed when it is needed.

Susan Deacon: The criteria for the prescription of Beta Interferon are based on objective consideration of all available guidance. This includes guidance about new drugs for multiple sclerosis, which was issued to all Health Boards in 1995 from The Scottish Office Department of Health and the advice from their expert Committees.

  The criteria contained in the advice given by the Standing Medical Advisory Committee is that GPs should determine on clinical grounds whether to refer patients for specialist assessment. The clinical grounds include mobility and disease type. The specialist should take into account the patient's clinical history and contra indications of the drug when determining the suitability of treatment for an individual patient. Where treatment is indicated, it should be initiated and continued by the specialist. Only certain patients with multiple sclerosis benefit from the use of this drug, and decisions as to individual patients' eligibility for treatment depends on the clinical judgement of the medical practitioners' concerned.

Health

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the level of stocks of anti-tetanus injections held at each accident and emergency department in Scotland on (a) Friday 6 August, and (b) Saturday 7 August, and whether it will make a statement on this matter.

Susan Deacon: The information requested is not held centrally. It is for NHS Trusts to ensure that stocks of the anti-tetanus vaccine are ordered to meet their individual requirements.

Pensions

Ms Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what key performance targets have been set for the Scottish Office Pensions Agency for 1999-2000, and what the Agency is to be called following the creation of the Scottish Executive.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I have   set the Agency   the following key performance targets for 1999-2000:

  ensure each award/transfer payment is accurate. The performance target is 98% for manual and 99.5% for fully computerised cases;

  pay on time the pensions comprising the monthly Scottish Teachers Superannuation Schemes’ (STSS) pay roll;

  pay new pensions and associated lump sums on time (where the target date for receipt of claims is met). The performance target is 99.5% for both pensions and lump sums once computerisation is complete. Prior to that it is pensions 98%, lump sums 95%;

  issue active members of the STSS with a benefit statement by 31.03.2000;

  collect contributions from both NHS and Teachers’ employers within the prescribed periods. The performance target is 98% (Teachers) and 96% (NHS);

  reduce total identified operating costs per member/beneficiary for basic services by 5% in real terms;

  implement all main elements of the new computer system by 31.03.2000.

  I have also agreed that the Agency will in future be called the Scottish Public Pensions Agency.

Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a transitional relief scheme in respect of the rating revaluation effective from 1 April 2000.

Mr Jack McConnell: A decision will be taken in the late autumn on whether a transitional relief scheme in respect of the rating revaluation is appropriate and affordable.

Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish, in respect of properties valued on the contractors principle, the decapitalisation rate applying to the rates revaluation effective from 1 April 2000.

Mr Jack McConnell: An announcement on proposals for the decapitalisation rate and a consultation exercise will be made in September.

Recycling

Richard Lochhead (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make funds available to the universities to develop products out of recyclable waste.

Sarah Boyack: We are committed to increasing recycling where it provides benefits by saving natural resources, reducing energy consumption and waste disposal, and cutting costs to business. While a number of universities are involved in projects in this area, it is a decision for them as to how they commit their resources.

  On 18 August, I was pleased to launch a new project, REMADE, which is aimed at demonstrating the potential value of materials from recycled waste in Scotland. The £1 million three year market development programme is to be funded jointly by The Scottish Executive, Local Authorities, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Enterprise, Valpak Ltd and landfill tax credits (from Haulwaste and Shanks Waste Solutions). It is intended that the programme will be lead by Caledonian Shanks Centre for Waste Management, a part of Glasgow Caledonian University.

Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what it estimates will be the reduction in the number of car journeys in Scotland as a result of its proposed road tolling.

Sarah Boyack: The effect on the number of car journeys arising from any road charging scheme would depend critically on the characteristics of the scheme, including the charge levels set, the hours over which they applied, the categories of vehicle/road user exempt from charges and the alternative transport options put in place using the resulting revenue.

Voluntary Sector

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support the role of voluntary sector infrastructure bodies in building the capacity of excluded communities and helping them address the social problems which they face.

Jackie Baillie: In recognising the important role which these bodies can play in supporting voluntary organisations and community groups in this work, I intend to commission a review to examine how the role of the Councils of Voluntary Service in delivering the social inclusion agenda can be strengthened. I have asked that priority be given to work on the review so that I can consider its recommendations in the late Autumn.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Equal Opportunities

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer who is responsible for the development of an equal opportunities policy for the Scottish Parliament.

Sir David Steel: The development of an equal opportunities policy for the Parliament is ultimately a matter for the Parliament itself.

  The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body recently endorsed the establishment of a Working Group, comprising Parliamentary officials and MSPs, to take forward consideration of this issue and to report in due course to the Corporate Body with a draft equal opportunities policy for the Parliament. Details of the Working Group, its membership and remit, will be published in "What’s Happening in the Scottish Parliament".